video; un: wallofsleep

[cacophonish]

[ Here's a YOUUUUTH, drunk off of moon-themed cocktails, laying back on a park bench, a red cloak spread out beneath him. It's totally at odds with the rest of his outfit: ratty jeans, a Hawaiian shirt, and a leather bomber jacket. But damn it, he's rocking the Lil Red Riding Hood look all the same.

And he's singing, eyes closed, seemingly to himself. Just, y'know, tipsy and enjoying all the celebration and revelry going on. ]

Under blue moon I saw you... So so~ooon you'll take me... up in your arms, too late to beg you, or cancel it though I know it must be: the killing time. [ He smiles dreamily, exhaling. ] Unwillingly mine...

[ Now he opens his eyes. It's harder to seem all chill and laid back when he's actually looking at... whoever the hell this message is for. There's a haunted look in his eyes, and his smile seems forced, almost a grimace. It's the smile of a hostage trying to assure their would-be rescuers that everything's fine! ]

Hey, whoever the werewolf is, can you come and bite me already? [ He makes a face, wrinkling his nose, as if really thinking on it. ] That's how the game's played, right?

Comments

[cacophonish]

[ Jeff seems to consider the question with a small frown, shifting with some discomfort. It's probably pretty obvious that there's something troubling him, but being young, dumb, and prone to lying about his problems, Jeff puts up an obvious facade. When Jeff pushes that frown away, replaces it with a carefree smile, it's like an actor putting himself back in character. He points at Strand with his water bottle. ]

Maybe I'm pushing my limits. [ His drinking limits! ] Only way to grow, right?

[nobasisinfact]

More to get alcohol poisoning.

[But Richard still noticed the look. Something other than getting completely drunk because he could was bothering Jeff.]

cw: binge drinking/addiction/medical talk

[cacophonish]

[ He shrugs, that smile on his face turning a little grim. ] Wouldn't be the first time.

[ He opens up the water bottle and takes a drink. ]

You know they don't actually pump your stomach for that? I always thought they would. [ Jeff smirks. ] TV fucking lied to me.

[ Acting totally casual and blase about past hospitalizations. Classic defense mechanism. ]

[nobasisinfact]

It's a waste of alcohol either way.

[Now to get to the center of the matter.]

What would make you want to go through that again?

[cacophonish]

Sometimes it's worth it. Not to... [ Feel too much? Think too much? Care too much?

He puts a bittersweet smile on his face and takes another drink of water. ]

Why not? It'd be something to do, that's all.

[nobasisinfact]

I've been around long enough to know that's generally not the reason.

[cacophonish]

Well I'm deceptively simple. [ He smirks, more bitter than sweet now. ] Like that word? An ex liked to call me that. 'Dee-ceptive'.

[ When it comes to his self destructive behaviors, it looks like Jeff's only really interested in deflecting. ]

You said you weren't a shrink. So what do you do?

[nobasisinfact]

I'm a professor and writer. Being deceptive rarely means you're simple.

[cacophonish]

[ Jeff laughs, with a note of hopelessness in his voice. ]

Maybe.

I'll try not to waste any booze here tonight.

[nobasisinfact]

Permit me to assume that you haven't been here long?

[None of them had - at least not with this sudden reality shift.]

[cacophonish]

[ He shakes his head. ]

Less than a day. I'm not in a hurry to go home though. [ He looks at Richard, with a cautious curiosity. ] You?

[nobasisinfact]

No particular reason; consider it small talk. I've been here almost a month, but there was a version of my here for far longer.

[cacophonish]

A... another version?

[ Look, this is all still very new to Jeff. In less than 24 hours, he's been taken from rehab, dropped under the sea, gotten some kind of implant in his brain, and met ACTUAL DEITIES.

It's all a lot to take in from a boy who's hardly ever left California. ]

[nobasisinfact]

How much do you know about the theory of multiple realities?

[He gestures to the water. Jeff might want to e a bit more sober for this.]

[cacophonish]

[ He takes a drink. See, he can follow direction sometimes! ]

Nothing. Sounds like sci fi crap. Like... Star Trek or whatever.

[nobasisinfact]

Unproven scientific theory.

[That's not denying that it sounds like sci-fi crap.]

It states the possibility of multiple realities created due to the choices that we make. For example, there would be a reality where tou didn't drink as much and we never met.

[cacophonish]

So there's like... a bunch of you's. And the you I'm talking to isn't usually the you that lives here?

[nobasisinfact]

Something like that, yes.

[cacophonish]

[ He's silent for a few moments, digesting that, trying to understand it. Then, quiet and tentative, he asks: ]

Is there a way I could do that? Just be another me for a while?

[nobasisinfact]

He hasn't turned into me. I've simply taken his place here while he returned to his world.

[cacophonish]

Oh.

[ He's clearly disappointed. ]

So how's the other you different?

[nobasisinfact]

Apparently, something happened to his marriage.

[He frowns at just the thought of it.]

[cacophonish]

And you... your life's going great?

[ God is there some other Jeff out there in some parallel universe that he would be totally jealous of? ]

[nobasisinfact]

I don't have any particular complaints.

[Aside from the whole having an arch enemy thing.]

[cacophonish]

[ Well... That sounds nice! He takes another drink, then frowns and tips the bottle upside down as he realizes he's run out of water. ]

I wish I knew what a different version of me would be like.